Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/256

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a number of circumstances. The third companion of Catherine that I shall cite, is Lysa who still lives; she U well known in Rome, especially by the citizens who reside in the district In which she dwells. I abstain from giving her eulogium because she is yet alive: her relation of sister-in-law to Catherine might render her testimony suspected; but I know that she always spoke the truth.

After the demise of Catherine, I found several holy men who had been witnesses of her last moments: I will only name four among them, all commendable by their merits and their virtues. Two have already followed Catherine to heaven; two yet live, and these I have selected for the conviction of the incredulous.

The first of the four is he, whom we styled Brother Saint, both on account of his name and his life; he was from Teramo; he forsook his parents and his country and fixed his residence at Sienna, where he led during more than thirty years, a very solitary life, never inciting others to speak of him, and obeying the direction of some devout and learned Religious. He found in his old age the precious pearl of the Gospel, in Blessed Catherine. For her, he quitted his peaceful cell and his style of living, in order to labor not solely for himself but for the good of others; he affirmed that he found greater tranquillity, and more profit to his soul in following Catherine and listening to her, than he ever enjoyed in his solitude; above all he made great progress in patience. He suffered much from a disease of the heart and our Saint taught him to support his continual anguish, not only with resignation, but with joy: he related to me several circumstances which transpired during my absence; but a short time after having quitted her he went again to